Ink-ribbon mechanism.



Patented Aug.. l4, I900.

8. A. NEIDICH.

INK RIBBON MECHANISM.

(Application filed. Sept. 11, 189B.)

4 Shaets8heat (No Model.)

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Patented Aug. I4, I900.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FIG. Z.

8. A. NEIDICH.

INK RIBBON MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: azm

No. 655,985. Patented Aug- I4, I900.

S. A. NEIDICH.

INK RIBBON MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sfieets-SheeI 3.

FIG. 3

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WITNESSES: I INVENTOR:

XZM; \SflMl/t? fl. NE/D/Q/l, 1 5 wd mf No. 655,985. Patented Aug; l4,I900.

S. A. NEIDICH.

INK RIBBUN MECHANISM.

(Application filed Sept 11, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Shasta-Sheet 4,

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

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Enron.

SAMUEL NEIDIOH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

INK-RIBBON MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,985, dated August14, 1900. Application filed September 11, 1899. Serial No. 730,063\ (Nomodel.)

erence being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to mechanism whereby an ink-ribbon may bedetachably secured and automatically shifted in cooperative relationwith a printing-press of ordinary construction.

My invention comprises simple and efficient ribbon-shifting mechanismand means whereby a signal may be automatically given by said mechanismwhen it becomes necessary to reverse thedirection of traverse of theribbon.

My invention also comprehends certain adj unctive devices arranged tofacilitate the insertion and removal of the ink-ribbon with respect tosaid shifting mechanism, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of aprinting-press, showing a convenient embodiment of myinvention appliedthereto. Fig. 2 is' an enlarged sectional view of certain parts shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of thefeed-rollers, showing an automatic sig naling device in connectiontherewith. Figs. 4. and 5 show details of construction of the feedrollers, &c. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing thearrangement of the parts for manual operation of the inkribbon rollers.Fig. 7 is a view of the socket end of the roller shown in Fig. 6. Fig.Sis a sectional elevation of the auxiliary ribbon roller or spindle.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is the main frame of an ordinary printing press,in which is mounted the driving-shaft B, provided with the band-wheel band pinion b, the latter gearing with the cam-wheel O and serving torotate it. The eccentric stud 0 upon said wheel 0 isoperativelyconnected by the link 0 with the stud 6 upon the bed E torock said bed upon e in the frame A. The chase E, containing the form oftype E is secured upon the bed E, and the platen D is given the propermovement by the rock-arm D,

whose roller d is engaged in the cam-groove c of said wheel 0.

The to-and-fro motion of the bed E, imparted to itby the link 0'', &c.,is transformed into oscillatory motion of the roller-frame F,

concentric with said stud c, said frame F being pivot-ally connected atf with the rollerarm G, whose opposite extremity is pivoted at 9 uponthe fixed frame A. The ordinary inking-disk H is mounted upon thebracket h, secured upon the bed E and intermittently rotated by thepawl-lever I, pivoted at h on said bracket, said lever being rocked bythe engagement of its roller 1 with the upper face of the frame'F.

The above-described members of an ordinary printing press form no partof but serve to actuate and cooperate with my improved mechanism,comprising the ribbonfeed rollers J and K, arranged upon the bed E,respectively above and below the chase E, to shift the ribbon L acrossthe face of the type E said rollers being respectively rotated inalternation step by step by the pawl-levers j and 7a, which arerespectively connected by the links J K with the ordinary disk-lever I,above described. It is to be understood, however, that my-d'evice may beactuated by suitable connection with any other movable member of thepress. The parts are so arranged that the desired oscillatory movementis imparted from said lever I to both of the pawl-levers j and 76, sothat the ink-ribbon L may be wound upon either of said rollers, whilethe other rotates idly, the respective pawling devices being alternatelyengaged and disengaged, according to the desired direction of traverseof the ribbon L. I shall only describe in detail the roller J and theparts connected therewith, it being understood, however, that the devices connected with the roller K are substantially counterpart theretoand correspondingly lettered on the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4., and 5, the ribbonfeed roller J is mounted inthe brackets e and e for rotation upon the-fixed cone-bear ings J and JThe pawl-leverjis fixed upon the pawl-disk j, which is loosely mountedupon the shankj of the bearing J 3 and carries the pawl j*, in positionto engage the ratcliet-wheelj, which is also loosely mounted upon saidshank. The lugj on the wheel J is adapted for engagement in the slot jof the bearing-platef on the roller J. The bearingstudj at the oppositeextremity of said roller J is mounted to telescope therein, but isnormally maintained in its extended position by means of the springjbeing so arranged that the stud j may be thrust inward to release theroller J from its bearings for removal. As shown in Fig. 2, said rollersJ and K are provided with hook-pins j 10 to positively engage the endsof the ink-ribbon L, which is extended from the roller J to the roller Kover the face of the type E in the chase E and depends over theguide-rod E upon which are secured adjustable spring-clips e which serveto guide and prevent its lateral displacement.

The arrangement of the parts above described is suchthat both of thepawl-levers jand k are operated by the lever I, &c., at each stroke ofthe bed E, and it being necessary to render one or the other of thepawls 7' and k inoperative in accordance with the direction of thetraverse of the ribbon L both of said pawls 7' k are arranged to bemanually rotated upon their respective axes on the pawl-disks to thedisengaged position indicated atj in Fig. 2. In order that the operatormay be warned when it is necessary to reverse the position of saidpawls, I find it convenient to provide a signaling device, which isautomatically operated," as follows: The roller J is conveniently madeof wood or other non-conducting material, bored at J to receive thewiring connections for the switch J The bearing memherj being arrangedto telescope within the metal sleeve 7' inclosing the springj, saidsleeve is electriean electric circuit is established between thebearings J and J and whenever the ribbon Lis wound upon the roller thepush-piece thrusts the spring 7' away from said bushing and the circuitis broken. The brackets e and 6 being both secured upon the metallic bedE the bearing J is insulated from its bracket 6 as indicated atj, inorder to conveniently establish an exterior circuit from the bearing Jto the bearing J Said circuit comprises the wiring connections at n, thebell or other signal M, the battery N, and the switch 0.

Although I have diagrammatically shown the electric connections asapplied only to the roller J, it is to be understood that both of therollers J and K may be in electrical connection with the bell M, so thatwhen the ink-ribbon L has traversed the face of the type E in eitherdirection to the limit of its length the unwinding of said ribbon fromone or the other of said rollers permits the respective switch J or K toproject, as indicated at J in Fig. 2, and thus the signal is operatedautomatically whenever it is necessary to reverse the pawlsj It is ofcourse necessary to change the ribbon whenever a different color of inkis desired, and even if the press is operated continuously with asinglecolor of ink it is necessary at intervals to renew the ribbon inconnection with the rollers J and K, so that although said rollers areprovided with means to permit of their removal from the press, as abovedescribed, I find it convenient to provide means to convenientlywind-and unwind an ink-ribbon with respect to said rollers withoutremoving them, as follows: As shown in Fig. 6, the bearing memberj ofthe roller J is adapted to be rotatively engaged by the cranlehandle Jthe squared extremity of which is arranged to be entered in thesimilarlyshaped socket J in said member j through the bearing J 7 in thebracket 6 In this form of my invention said bracket may beconvenientlyinsulated, as indicated atj. Said handle J may be insertedand withdrawn at the will of the operator without disturbin g the normalrelation of the ribbon-feed rollers and the parts connected therewith.

As a temporary support for the roll of ribbon I provide an auxiliaryroller or spindle P, which, as shown in Fig. 8, may be detachablymounted in the bearings 9 secured upon the bracket 7t of the press. Saidspindle P is provided with a crank-handle I and is retained in properposition in the press by the engagement of its grooved collar 17 withthe bearing 1), the latter being open at the top to facilitate theinsertion and removal of the spindle. The spring P is fixed at itsextremity p in the recess 19 in the spindle P intermediate of itslength, and the free extremity p of said spring is pointed forengagement with the ink-ribbon which is to be wound thereon. Althoughsaid spring P suliices to prevent accidental displacement of theink-ribbon, it is so proportioned as to permit of the removal of theroll of ribbon from said spindle in the direct-ion of the arrow uponFig. 8.

It being desired to remove or replace the ribbon with respect to therollers J and K, an empty spindle P is inserted in the bearings p p, andthe ribbon L in the press having been wound upon one of said rollers Jor K to the limit of its length its extremity is detached from thehook-pinsj or 70 and engaged with the point f of the spring P of thespindle I and the latter rotated until said ribbon is wound upon saidspindle P and unwound from the said feed-roller to the limit of itslength, whereupon its extremity being detached from the hook-pins of thefeed-roller and being completely wound upon said spindle the latter islifted from the bearing 9 and withdrawn from the bearing 19.

The ribbon which is to replace the inkribbon withdrawn as aforesaidbeing similarly mounted upon a spindle P, said spindle is inserted inthe bearing 19 and its collar 10 engaged with the bearing 19, and thefree extremity of said ribbon being engaged with one of the feed-rollersthe handle J is inserted in the latter, as shown in Fig-6 and abovedescribed,and said ribbon is wound upon said roller by manual rotationof said handle, while the spindle P idly rotates in the bearings 19 p.The inner extremity of the rolled ribbon thus unwound from the spindle Pbeing extended over the type-form E in the normal position shown in Fig.2 and engaged upon the other of said feed-rollers, the automaticoperation of the parts above described may be resumed.

It is to be understood that themechanism hereinbefore described may beapplied to any ordinary form of printing-press, and therefore I do notdesire to limit myself to the precise construction andarrangement of theparts which I have illustrated, as it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofmy invention in accordance with the construction of the press in whichsaid mechanism is to be embodied.

I claim 1. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of anink-ribbon detachably se cured thereon, means to unwind said ribbon fromsaid roller, an electric switch connected with said roller,electric-circuit connections within said roller, and means toautomatically operate said switch when said ribbon is unwound,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of an ink-ribbondetachably secured thereon, means to unwind said ribbon from saidroller, an electric switch in said roller, electric-circuit connectionswithin said roller, a signal connected with said switch, and means toautomatically operate said switch and signal, when said ribbon isunwound, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of an ink-ribbondetachably secured thereon, means to unwind said ribbon from saidroller, electric-circuit connections within said roller, an electricswitch arranged to be depressed by the ribbon, when the latter is woundupon said roller, and means to automatically raise said switch when saidribbon is unwound, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with two ink-ribbon feed-rollers, of means toalternately rotate said rollers, an ink-ribbon whose oppositeextremities are respectively secured to said rollers, electric-circuitconnections within said rollers, and electric switch mechanism in each5. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of respectively fixedand adjustable bearing members, carried by the opposite extremities ofsaid roller, two bearings arranged for respective engagement with saidfixed and adjustable members, mechanism to rotate said roller, and meansto detachably connect said rotary mechanism with said roller,substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with an ink -ribbon feed-roller, of electric switchmechanism, mounted therein and arranged to be operated by an ink-ribbonwound thereon, and electriccircuit connections within said roller,substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of bearings todetachably engage the respective ends thereof, one of said bearingsbeing electrically connected with, and the other insulated from, itssupport, an electric circuit connecting said bearings with a source ofelectrical energy, and an electric signal, and electric switchmechanism, secured upon said roller and arranged to be operated by anink-ribbon wound thereon, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller having bearing-socketsin its respective ends, of fixed cone-bearings arranged to support therespective ends of said roller, a pawl-disk, loosely mounted upon one ofsaid fixed bearings, a pawl pivoted upon said disk, a ratchet-wheelloosely mounted upon said bearing, in operative relation with said pawl,means to detachably connect said ratchetwheel with said roller inrotative engagement therewith, and means to intermittently actuate saidpawl-disk, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with an ink-ribbon spindle, having a recess in itsperiphery, of

a spring-hook mounted in said recess, and arranged to normally projectbeyond the cir cumference of said spindle, and to be withdrawn withinthe circumference of said spindle to disengage the ribbon, substantiallyas set forth.

10. The combination with an inkribbon feed-roller, having a recess inits periphery,

of means arranged in said recess to detach ably engage a ribbon, abearing member fixed atone end of said roller, a bearing member at theopposite end of said roller in telescopic relation therewith, a slot inone end of said roller,and roller-driving mechanism arranged fordetachable engagement with said slot, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of means todetachably secure a ribbon thereon, bearings at the opposite ends ofsaid roller, and a spring-pressed adjustable socket in one end of saidroller arranged to rotatively engage an operating-handle, substantiallyas set forth.

12. The combination with an ink-ribbon feed-roller, of means todetachably secure a ribbon thereon, cone'bearings at the opposite endsof said roller, and a spring-pressed ad- IIO justable socket at one endof said roller, within said cone-bearing, arranged to rotatively engagean operating-handle, substantially as set forth.

13. In a printing-press, the combination wit-l1 an ink-ribbon, of twofeed-rollers to which said ribbon is normally secured at its oppositeextremities, a ribbon-spindle auxiliary to said two feed-rollers, meansto detachably secure said ribbon to said spindle, and means to rotatesaid rollers and spindle to transfer the ribboirfrom one to the other,substantially as set forth.

ll. In a printing-press, the combination with an ink-ribbon, of twofeed-rollers to which said ribbon is normally secured at its oppositeextremities, a ribbon-spindle auxiliary to said two feed-rollers, meansto detachably secure said ribbon to said spindle, bearings in said pressto detachably secure said auxiliary spindle, and means to rotate saidspindle in said bearing to transfer the ribbon to and from said spindleand rollers, substantially as set forth.

15. In a printing-press, the combination with an ink-ribbon spindlehaving a recess in its periphery, of means secured in said recess toengage an ink-ribbon,a bearing-collar fixed at one extremity of saidspindle, an operating-handle upon said spindle, and means to detachablysecure said spindle in said press, substantially as set forth.

16. In a printing-press, the combination with an ink-ribbon, of twofeed-rollers to which said ribbon is normally secured at its oppositeextremities, an operating-handle arranged to be detachably engaged withsaid feed-rollers,a ribbon-spindle auxiliary to said two feed-rollers,means to detachably secure said ribbon to said spindle, anoperating-handle upon said spindle, bearings for said roller and saidspindle, arranged to permit of the rotary transfer of said ribbon to andfrom said spindle, and means to detachably secure said rollers and saidspindle, in cooperative relation in said bearings, substantially as setforth.

' SAMUEL A. NEIDIOII.

lVitnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, EDWD. C. REGN.

